Israel, Hamas continue talks as Palestinians in Gaza starved of aid

 As indirect negotiations between Israel and the militant group Hamas continue in Doha, ordinary Palestinians say the ceasefire in Gaza is starting to feel increasingly hollow.

"I don't know what to say. There is simply no life. We struggle with everything," Walaa Mahmoud told DW by phone from Gaza City. Mahmoud, who works for a civil society organization, noted that prices have skyrocketed in recent weeks. "Pick anything — we lack clean water, there is no electricity, medical treatment is difficult to obtain, roads are in poor condition, prices are soaring, transportation is unavailable, and security is nonexistent. Everything is in crisis."

This sentiment was echoed by Walid Abu Daqqa, a father of four from Gaza City whose house was completely destroyed during the war and who is currently staying with relatives. "We used to endure bombings and death. Now we face poverty, high prices, exploitation, and harsh conditions that dominate our lives. My children can't attend school, and there's no functioning healthcare system if I fall ill. The threat of war looms due to the absence of agreements between Israel and Hamas," Abu Daqqa told DW. He also expressed concerns about "greed and corruption" in all areas and accused merchants of "exploiting the situation" after the border crossings were closed. "There is no justice, even in the distribution of aid, and there are even fees to withdraw money from banks. Nothing is normal here."

Following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in early March, Israel closed its crossings with Gaza and cut off all aid supplies. On Sunday, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced that he had instructed the Israeli Electric Corporation to stop supplying electricity to Gaza, even though electricity had already been cut off in October 2023.

In response, Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, accused Israel of "breaching the ceasefire deal" and "using aid as a political blackmail tool" to pressure it into accepting a new framework to extend the expired first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of stealing aid supplies for profit. It also claimed to have allowed enough aid into Gaza to last several months, asserting that it is under no obligation to continue providing assistance once the first phase of the ceasefire ends.

The initial 42-day phase expired in early March, and negotiations on the second phase of the agreement, which would have involved the release of the remaining 59 hostages taken by Hamas during the attacks on October 7, 2023, along with the withdrawal of Israeli forces and talks on ending the war, do not appear to have progressed.

For many in Gaza, this situation is a painful reminder of the early days of the 15-month war triggered by Hamas-led attacks on communities in southern Israel.

As for electricity in Gaza, the latest Israeli move affects only one functioning power line (restored in November 2024) that supplied electricity to a desalination plant in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. Since the start of the war, Gazans have had no electricity at all, primarily relying on diesel-powered generators or small solar panels. The territory's power infrastructure was largely damaged by the conflict, and electricity supply was already limited before.

According to Gisha, an Israeli NGO that works to protect the rights of movement for Palestinians in Gaza, this desalination plant supplied 18,000 cubic meters (4.8 million gallons) of water daily. Following the power cut, the plant is expected to operate on generators, reducing its output to around 2,500 cubic meters. The United Nations estimates that the available drinking water in southern Gaza will be significantly diminished, affecting approximately 600,000 people.

This presents yet another challenge for aid workers. "We are already feeling the effects," said Amjad Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO network, in a phone call with DW from Gaza City. "We need fuel for generators, which comes from the crossings. According to various organizations, we only have a limited amount of fuel for the next few days. Some bakeries in central and southern Gaza have already stopped operating due to a lack of cooking gas."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on March 11 that "fuel for backup generators at water and health facilities is running low, cooking fuel prices are rising, and distribution of flour, fresh produce, and shelter materials has been disrupted." OCHA also indicated that aid agencies were unable to retrieve cargo that had entered the Kerem Shalom crossing before it was closed 10 days ago.

Israel has faced international criticism over its suspension of supplies. "Humanitarian aid in Gaza is a lifeline for over two million Palestinians who have endured unimaginable conditions for many years."